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Foundation announces maths teams for international contests

Monday, 06 June 2022

The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) is proud to announce the two teams representing South Africa at two international mathematics competitions later this year. 

The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) will take place from 6-16 July in Oslo, Norway, while the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) will take place from 19-28 June in Benguerir, Morocco. Teams will travel to the locations for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

IMO team leader Dr Liam Baker, a lecturer at Stellenbosch University and IMO and PAMO alumnus, explains how the SAMF selects the teams. “We invited the top-performing contestants of the 2021 Old Mutual South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO) to a training camp in December. After the camp, learners must continue with their training by submitting monthly assignments to be considered for the final selection training camp in April.” 

 The high school learners who will represent South Africa in this year’s IMO are:  

  •          Minkyum Kim                    Grade 11              Reddam House Durbanville
  •          Youkyum Kim                    Grade 9                Reddam House Durbanville
  •          Benjamin Kleyn                 Grade 12              Hoërskool Parel Vallei
  •          Emmanuel Rassou             Grade 12              South African College High School
  •          Juliette Roux                     Grade 12              Herschel Girls’ High School
  •          Alex Sinclair-Smith            Grade 12              Westerford High School

 Each PAMO team consists of three boys and three girls. The learners who will represent South Africa in this year’s PAMO are:  

  •          Jason de Villiers                Grade 12              Rondebosch Boys’ High School
  •          Daniella Kaye                    Grade 11              Herschel Girls’ High School
  •          Youkyum Kim                    Grade 9                Reddam House Durbanville
  •          Shelby le Roux                  Grade 12              Rustenburg Girls’ High School
  •          Jana Rossouw                   Grade 10              Hoërskool Jim Fouche
  •          Jared Slater                      Grade 11              Hoërskool Parel Vallei

It is not their first time competing in these international Olympiads for some of these learners.

Those who competed in previous PAMOs are:

  •          Minkyum Kim (2021)
  •          Emmanuel Rassou (2019 Bronze medal)
  •          Juliette Roux (2019 Bronze medal)
  •          Alex Sinclair-Smith (2021 Silver medal and 2019)
  •          Daniella Kaye (2021)
  •          Shelby le Roux (2021 Bronze medal)

 Previous IMO contestants are:

  •          Minkyum Kim (2021)
  •          Emmanuel Rassou (2021 Honorable mention and 2020 Honorable mention)
  •          Juliette Roux (2021 Bronze medal and 2020 Honorable mention)

The SAMO, including South Africa’s participation in the IMO and PAMO, is sponsored by Old Mutual and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and organised by the SAMF.

“We are extremely proud of the achievements of all the learners participating in this year’s IMO and PAMO,” says Celiwe Ross, Human Capital Director at Old Mutual. “At Old Mutual, we believe that education is the foundation for success in life, and we hope that all this year’s participants find value in this amazing learning opportunity. All the best, and continue to fly the SA flag high!”

Prof Kerstin Jordaan, the executive director at the SAMF, says that she is proud of the learners in this year’s teams. “To be selected for the international teams is one of the highlights of participation in the SAMO. It takes years of preparation, starting with participating in the NESTLÉ NESPRAY South African Mathematics Challenge (SAMC) when in Grade 4. On behalf of the SAMF, I thank these learners for their hard work and dedication. We also acknowledge their teachers and parents for their roles in these youngsters’ mathematical achievements. We wish you the best of luck!”

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